ABKA (Colorado Springs, Colo.) changed its name to the Pet Care Services Association. The new name better reflects the association’s membership, which has shifted from facilities that offer only boarding kennel services to those that also offer grooming, pet training and dog-day care services. [June 2008 PET AGE]

Public service announcements for the Pets Add Life campaign, sponsored by the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association (Greenwich, Conn.), the Pet Industry Distributors Association (Bel Air, Md.) and H.H. Backer Associates Inc. (Chicago), have aired more than 1,100 times since October. Valued at more than $290,000, the TV spots have appeared in top markets such as Los Angeles, Washington and Houston to promote responsible pet care as well as the benefits of owning and adopting pets. [June 2008 PET AGE]

Animal Planet (Silver Spring, Md.) in April premiered “Groomer Has It,” a reality-based competition series in which 12 groomers complete challenges to win the title of Groomer of the Year. The grand-prize winner will receive $50,000 cash plus a mobile grooming salon by Wag’n Tails Mobile Conversions (Granger, Ind.)—a prize package worth $125,000. The series airs on Saturdays at 9 p.m. EST. [June 2008 PET AGE]

AnimalWork.org (Washington) launched as a resource for finding animal-related jobs in the training, grooming, veterinary medicine, animal welfare, retail, corporate and zoo arenas. [June 2008 PET AGE]

Aquascape Inc. (St. Charles, Ill.) launched the Certified Kloubec Koi Supplier Program for retailers and contractors who want to sell koi without stocking them. Offering 20 percent earnings on koi sales, the Internet-based program is available to the company’s wholesale customers for an annual membership fee. For more information, visit www.aquascapeinc.com. [June 2008 PET AGE]

Allennia and Jean Voerster opened Aristocats—Feline Suites Hotel & Spa, an all-suites boarding and grooming facility exclusively for cats in Oklahoma City. [June 2008 PET AGE]

Bark Buckle Up, a California-based pet safety program, gave away more than $20,000 worth of pet safety and travel products at the New York International Auto Show in March. [June 2008 PET AGE]

Barkleigh Productions Inc. (Mechanicsburg, Pa.) will hold it first Pet Boutique & Spa Show July 10-13 at The Drawbridge Inn in Fort Mitchell, Ky. To be held in conjunction with PetQuest 2008, the new trade event will showcase vendors of high-end products and equipment for upscale pet retailers, boutiques and service facilities. For more information, call (717) 691-3388 or visit www.barkleigh.com. [June 2008 PET AGE]

Lauren Snyder of the PetSmart store in Olympia, Wash., won Best in Show and Best First Timer in the Super Model Dog Competition at the Pacific Northwest Grooming Show, held in March in Tacoma, Wash., by Barkleigh Productions Inc. (Mechanicsburg, Pa.). She received a total of $1,250 from sponsor PetEdge (Beverly, Mass.). Snyder also won the “pup-ouri” class, receiving $400 from sponsor Andis Co. (Racine, Wis.). Linda Sonn won the competition’s poodle class, receiving $400 from sponsor Nature’s Specialties Manufacturing (Corona, Calif.).

Veronica Frosch won the Winner’s Circle Tournament for the second consecutive time at Groom & Kennel Expo, held in February in Burbank, Calif., by Barkleigh Productions Inc. (Mechanicsburg, Pa.). She received $2,500 from sponsor Nature’s Specialties Manufacturing (Corona, Calif.).  Frosch also won Level 3 Best in Show in the World Cup Grooming Games at the event, receiving $3,000 from sponsor Andis Co. (Racine, Wis.). Nicole Baltes took Level 2 Best in Show, receiving $1,500; and Ellen Meyer took Level 1 Best in Show, receiving $750. Olga Zabelinskaya won the Super Model Dog contest, receiving $1,500 from sponsor PetEdge (Beverly, Mass.). Missy Gullet won the Creative Styling Contest with her version of Captain Jack from “Pirates of the Caribbean.” She received $1,500 from Barkleigh Productions.For information about Groom & Kennel Expo 2009, call (717) 691-3388 or visit www.barkleigh.com. [June 2008 PET AGE]

Cain & Able Collection (Austin, Texas) launched its Third Annual Haute Dog Super Model Search to find a model for its 2008 Christmas marketing campaign. Owners can submit a photo and bio of their dog online at www.cainandablecollection.com through June 1. Winners will be announced June 15. [June 2008 PET AGE]

D&D Commodities Ltd. (Stephen, Minn.) received the 2007 Excellence in Labeling Compliance Award from the Missouri Department of Agriculture for achieving a 100 percent passing rate on feed label guarantees for the calendar year. [June 2008 PET AGE]

DogServicesUSA.COM (Castro Valley, Calif.), a new online resource, helps users locate dog walkers, trainers, breeders, groomers and other dog-service providers. [June 2008 PET AGE]

FelineDirect.COM (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), a new online resource, offers general, health and care information about cats. [June 2008 PET AGE]

Fetch! Pet Care (Berkeley, Calif.), a professional pet-sitting and dog-walking service, opened its 150th franchise in March. [June 2008 PET AGE]

GPC Pet Products (Muscatine, Iowa) signed Lone Star Pet Co. (Schertz, Texas) to distribute World’s Best Cat Litter. [June 2008 PET AGE]

GPC Pet Products (Muscatine, Iowa) named NBS Marketing (Montville, N.J.) 2007 Grocery Broker of the Year. [June 2008 PET AGE]

Groomers Helper (Margate, N.J.) recently became the official Stainless Steel Level sponsor of GroomTeam USA (Beaumont, Calif.). [June 2008 PET AGE]

HG Pet Products Inc. (Los Angeles) signed Optimum Sales (El Dorado Hills, Calif.) as a broker of HG Natural and Organic Pet Body Wash and Conditioner. In addition, it is offering the product through Petmanufacturers.com, a business-to-business Web site for the pet industry. [June 2008 PET AGE] 

INDIANA—Age Requirements for Animal Sales. Gov. Mitch Daniels in March signed Senate Bill 190, enacting legislation that sets minimum age requirements for dogs, birds and rabbits being sold. Under the new law, dogs less than 8 weeks old may not be imported or exported for sale unless the animal is transported with its dam. Birds under 3 weeks old or rabbits under the age of 2 months cannot be sold. Breeders, distributors and retailers who sell a bird or rabbit under these ages will be guilty of a Class B misdemeanor. [June 2008 PET AGE]

Kennelwood Pet Resorts (St. Louis) donated $4,800 to the Goldens of Dirk’s Fund, a St. Louis-based rescue group for golden retrievers. The company raised the funds during its 27th annual Santa Comes to the Pets photo event. [June 2008 PET AGE]

Kennelwood Pet Resorts (St. Louis) in April temporarily sheltered 30 adoptable dogs from the Humane Society of Missouri, allowing the society’s Macklind, Mo., location to accommodate pets rescued from flood areas. [June 2008 PET AGE]

KollerCraft (Shawnee, Kan.) acquired the TOM Aquarium & Pet Products product line from Oscar Enterprises Inc. (Gardena, Calif.). By adding the Tom brand to its Pet Buddies and Hawkeye operations, KollerCraft is strengthening its portfolio of premium brands in the pet specialty category. [June 2008 PET AGE]

MAINE—“Puppy Mills.” House Bill 1394, to establish humane breeding standards for dogs and to outlaw “puppy mills,” was amended in March to resolve that a working group be appointed to evaluate and recommend changes to the statutory definition of “breeding kennel.” Companion House Bill 1545, to amend animal cruelty law, shelter requirements and breeding kennel advertisement requirements, in April passed the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry. [June 2008 PET AGE]

Irina Pinkusevich of Hallandale, Fla., won Best in Show at the 20th Atlanta Pet Fair, held in March in Atlanta by McPaw Inc. (Tucker, Ga.). The class was sponsored by Andis Co. (Racine, Wis.). Lindsey Berry of Altamonte Springs, Fla., was named Best All-Around Stylist. The award was sponsored by Wahl Clipper Corp. (Sterling, Ill.). Carolee Brancefield of Cleveland, Tenn., was named Best First-Time Competitor. The award was sponsored by Hanvey Specialty Engineering (Sunset, S.C.). Brenda Gallops of Pine Mountain Valley, Ga., won the Scarlet’s Challenge Competition, sponsored by Stylist Wear (Garland, Texas). Angela Kumpe of Little Rock, Ark., won the Creative Styling Competition, sponsored by Wag’n Tails Mobile Conversions (Granger, Ind.). Veronica Frosch of Coon Rapids, Minn., won the Super Model Dog Competition, sponsored by Geib Buttercut Shears (Orlando, Fla.), Mr. Groom (Irmo, S.C.) and Atlanta Pet Fair. The 21st Atlanta Pet Fair will take place March 5-8, 2009. For more information, call (770) 908-9857 or visit www.atlantapetfair.com. [June 2008 PET AGE]

The “Support Our Troops” Loofa dog toy, created by Multipet International Inc. (Moonachie, N.J.) to build support for U.S. military troops and their service dogs, is being sold in PetSmart, Petco, Pet Supplies “Plus,” Meijer’s, Walgreens, CVS, Price Chopper, Weis Markets and Stop ’n Shop stores nationwide. [June 2008 PET AGE] 

Nano Pet Products L.L.C. (Wilton, Conn.) signed Superdog Pet Food Co. (Leola, Pa.) and Southeast Pet (Austell, Ga.) to distribute the Dog Gone Smart Bed and Dog Gone Smart Wear product lines. [June 2008 PET AGE]

NanoDynamics Inc. (Buffalo, N.Y.) launched a Web site promoting ReefresH2O biological filtration media. The site covers the complete product line and provides a direct portal for customer inquiries. [June 2008 PET AGE]

Old Mother Hubbard (Tewksbury, Mass.) signed Silversky PTE Ltd. (Singapore) to distribute the Wellness and Old Mother Hubbard product lines in Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. This represents the company’s first distribution agreement outside North America. [June 2008 PET AGE]

OurPet’s Co. (Fairport Harbor, Ohio) reported net revenues of $2.7 million for the 2007 fourth quarter, down 5.2 percent from $2.9 million for the year-earlier period. According to Dr. Steven Tsengas, president and chief executive officer, sales to new and foreign customers partially offset a cutback on orders from two of the company’s largest customers due to soft market conditions and significant inventory reductions. [June 2008 PET AGE] 

Oxbow Pet Products (Murdock, Neb.) changed its name to Oxbow Animal Health to reflect the company’s expanded emphasis on providing animal nutrition and health products. [June 2008 PET AGE]

Pet Butler (Dallas), a pet waste cleanup and removal service, opened its 100th franchise in April. The company now operates in 27 states. [June 2008 PET AGE]

Pet Ecology Brands Inc. (Dallas) retained Ball Law Firm L.L.P. (Los Angeles) to prevent patent-infringement on its Perfect Litter sickness-indicating cat litter. [June 2008 PET AGE] 

Pet Ecology Brands Inc. (Dallas) in April began steps to become a reporting company in full compliance with the Securities Act of 1934. [June 2008 PET AGE]

Pet Tracks (Orlando, Fla.) launched at www.pet-tracks.net, an affordable, noninvasive way for owners to find lost pets through a national database and GPS technology. [June 2008 PET AGE]

PetFirst Healthcare L.L.C. (Jeffersonville, Ind.) now is offering pet insurance through cards displayed on freestanding kiosks in the pet departments of more than 100 Meijer supercenters in the Midwest. [June 2008 PET AGE]

Daxa and Rakesh Bhakta opened a Petland store in the Southpark Meadows Shopping Center in Austin, Texas. [June 2008 PET AGE]

Petmanufacturers.com (New York), a wholesale Web site for the pet industry, offered more than 33 product tutorial videos during a virtual trade show in March. [June 2008 PET AGE]

Petmate Pet Products (Arlington, Texas) revamped its Web site, www.petmate.com, to include more detailed product information and video clips providing helpful tips on pet phobias, fitness and travel. [June 2008 PET AGE]

PetSmart Inc. (Phoenix) and Milk-Bone, a brand of Del Monte Pet Products (San Francisco), are sponsoring a Canine Assistants service dog for Michael Carter of Adolphus, Ky., who is wheelchair-bound due to degenerative cerebellum ataxia. The companies are covering all travel and boarding expenses for a training camp for Carter as well as lifelong veterinary care for his dog. [June 2008 PET AGE]

PetSmart Inc. (Phoenix) named Cardinal Logistics Management Corp. (Concord, N.C.) 2007 Carrier of the Year for having the best on-time service percentage of any third-party logistics company. [June 2008 PET AGE]

PetSmart Charities (Phoenix) launched the Recycle for Life program, allowing consumers to recycle used ink and toner cartridges and cell phones, buy such recycled or refurbished items at a discount and generate funds for homeless pets at the same time. [June 2008 PET AGE]

Planet Dog (Portland, Maine) received the Maine’s 2008 Governor’s Award for Business Excellence for its commitment to corporate sustainability and dedication to employees and community. [June 2008 PET AGE]

Planet Dog (Portland, Maine) was named one of America’s Best Places to Work in 2008 by Outside Magazine. It was cited for promoting green business practices and providing a balance between work and quality of life for employees. [June 2008 PET AGE]

The Planet Dog Foundation (Portland, Maine) recently gave $10,000 grants to Hearing and Service Dogs of Minnesota (Minneapolis), the Pawprints program at the Children’s Hospital of Boston and the Working Dogs for Conservation Foundation, and $3,000 re-funding grants to the therapy dog program of People. Animals. Love. (Washington), the balance dog program of the Service Dog Project (Ipswich, Maine), the therapy dog program of Gabriel’s Angels (Mesa, Ariz.) and International Hearing Dog (Henderson, Colo.). [June 2008 PET AGE]

RHODE ISLAND—Puppy Sales. Legislation that would regulate direct sales of puppies to the public at press time awaited its first public hearing in the Senate Committee on Constitutional & Regulatory Issues. Senate Bill 2210 would require any dealer or breeder in the state who sells dogs directly to the public by way of the Internet, newspaper, or any other form of solicitation, to obtain a license to deal prior to sale. It also would limit the number of dogs that dealers and breeders could sell in one year by prohibiting the issuance or renewal of licenses to any kennel or dealer that sells or transfers 20 or more litters in any 12-month period. [June 2008 PET AGE]

Scott Pet Products (Rockville, Ind.) in April informed consumers that it was not connected in any way to Morning Song, Scotts, Country Pride or various private-label brands of wild bird and animal foods voluntarily recalled due to the use of unapproved pesticides. The recalled products were made by Morning Song Wild Bird Food (Lafayette, Ind.) and The Scotts Co. L.L.C. (Marysville, Ohio). [June 2008 PET AGE]

Skooperbox (Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, United Kingdom) now is distributing its biodegradable pet waste pickup product in Australia and New Zealand through Skooperbox Australia (South Yarra, Victoria). [June 2008 PET AGE] 

Sticky Paws, the first dog bakery and boutique on Mackinac Island, Mich., opened in May. [June 2008 PET AGE]

The United Kennel Club (Kalamazoo, Mich.) updated its Web site, www.ukcdogs.com, with more user-friendly and interactive resources. [June 2008 PET AGE]

WEST VIRGINIA—Non-native Species Regulation Board. A bill that would have created a Non-native Species Regulation Board and a host of new requirements for pet shops selling or breeding nonnative species died in committee when the legislature adjourned. House Bill 2774 also would have required permits for possessors of non-native species. [June 2008 PET AGE]

Zoombak L.L.C. (New York) highlighted its Advanced Dog Locator as part of the Bark Buckle Up pet safety program at the New York International Auto Show. [June 2008 PET AGE]